There is no cure (Carl Grimes)

Chapter 31

That night I woke up to screaming. Carl laid there still. He didn't move at all.

"Carl," I whispered. He shifted in his sleep, and I stood up. Glenn was walking out of his bedroom, as the screaming got louder. We hurried down the steps, and peered out the window. People were screaming, and rushing into houses. That's when I saw Enid, and my father roaming the streets. There bodies limped to reach one person, but they were too quick to get. She faced me her haunting green eyes looking right into mine. She growled, as she made her way to the window. Blood dripped down from her chin with each step. I fell back from the window, and woke everyone up. I knew this place was going to fall. I didn't know how soon. There's always a part of me wishing this place would be safe, but we are never safe.

"Glenn, they're turning everyone," I whisper. I hear the banging on the door, and the growls. The lights flick on, and everyone is running down the steps. There weapons are on them. Carl throws my crossbow over, and I catch it.

"I can't shoot her," I say, standing by the door.

"Who is it?" Carl asks.

"It's Enid," there faces fall. Another set of slamming comes from behind the door. Glenn pulls the door back, and shoots her. The other walker behind her was my father. I shot him in an instant. Enid's bite mark was on her stomach, like my first bite mark. My father had one on his neck, and arm. His flesh was ripped from the neck down. Then, I saw the bullet hole on his chest. He suffered. We run out together.

"Stay together! You see someone you pull them in the circle check for bite marks," Rick orders. People I never knew are limping towards us with fresh bite marks. Shooting them down, one by one was easy. Seeing the people we grew a bond with was hard. I looked back at the people in the middle of our group. The survivors. There wasn't many. We made it to the gate, and slammed it close. It was now just us and the dead.

"No more walkers. Check for bite marks, or any scratches," Daryl demands.

"We just got her back and she just died," Ron said holding onto his little brother.

"Are you bit, scratched, anything?" I ask ignoring everything he just said. They both shake their heads no. They were traumatized, scarred. They've never witnessed something more mortifying in their lives. This was only the beginning for them.

"Where's your mom?" Rick asks Ron. He shrugs, scared.

"Ron! Sam! Where are they?" I hear a desperate call. I look for Carl, and see his shinny eyes searching the crowd.

"Ron's fine," I say approaching him. He sighs in relief.

"I was actually scared," I whisper. He looks down at me, his arm wrapped around my waist bringing me closer.

"You know how hard I've tried not to get attached to this place, but it's too late. I got attached to the people-Enid," I whisper. "She's dead. I-I found her, and she just died. She showed me how to distract walkers instead of killing them right on sight. She was sneaky. We're not safe, here or anywhere." He doesn't say anything. He just brings me closer to his chest.

"Walkers came from outside," Rick says. "We need to keep watch 24/7 and build thicker walls," he says, but something distracts me. In a distance I can see flames flickering from behind the wall.

"Rick," I cut him off. His gaze goes directly to the flames, but it was too late. The awful smell of burning metal stings my lungs. The gates are being forced open, and guns shots are being fired. Daryl grabs me, and I pull Carl with me. Daryl runs behind the houses stopping behind one, and sprinting to the other one. When we come up to the last house, and close to the gate he stops.

"You run. You don't stop. I'll find you lil' sister," he kissed my forehead, and looks to Carl. "You take care of her," he says, and nods. Daryl whispers something in his hear, I watch Daryl run. Why don't you come with us? Why are you running? I want to scream, but Carl is sprinting, and dragging me away from Alexandria. I can sense someone following us, but we try to get them off our trail. The sun is about to come up anytime, and we are still jogging, and walking in silence. Carl's arm is firmly gripping mine. Where are we? I need Daryl. Never have I ever separated from him on purpose. I rip my hand from Carl's.

"We need to go back, now."

"There's nothing there," he says.

"They probably killed those bastards. Carl, I need to go get Daryl! You need to get Judith and your dad!" I shout pointing back from where we fled.

"Daryl told me to run. Take care of you! C'mon," he says. He forces me to follow behind him. Each step I take is each tear I swallow back.

Why would Daryl tell him to run? Is he planning on finding us somewhere? Did he tell Carl where to meet him? I keep walking. Those questions swarm in my head. That's the only thing to keep me going. The hot sun burns my flesh, and the tears being hold back are flowing down my face.

"Here let's take a break. Mary?" Carl turns to face me. I wipe the tears, and walk past him.

"Mary? We need to rest," he says. I continue to walk. His arm pulls me back, and I am facing him head on.

"Where are we going?" I demand to know.

"I just need to keep you safe," he says.

"No. Daryl is going to have us meet somewhere. That's what he told you, right? Where are we going to meet him? Are we going back to Georgia? Do we just steal a car, and-and find our way back? Are we going to meet him-" Carl stops me.

"Mary, Daryl isn't meeting us anywhere. He just told me to keep you safe," he admits. I drop the heavy crossbow, and fall to the floor.

"Please," I beg. I'm begging! You're pathetic. "Don't you want to see your sister?" I say looking up to him.

"Not if she's dead," he mumbles. Dead? Is that what he thinks? They're dead? I shake my head, and get to my feet throwing the strap around my shoulder.

"I'll find out if there dead. I can't not know what happened to them. They're family! I care about what happens to your sister, to your dad, to Maggie, and Glenn, Michonne, Carol, Tara, Morgan! Abraham, Rosita, Eugene, Jessie, Ron, and Sam, and Mikey! You've been with most of them since the beginning. How could you just leave?" I turn around, and march over. The leaves crackle under my boots, but I hear more leaves break. I know you care.